An Atlanta judge recently arrested for allegedly punching a police officer outside an Atlanta nightclub should be relieved of his duties following an ongoing investigation into unrelated alleged ethics violations, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson, 38, was fired effective Tuesday. The Georgia Supreme Court ruling came after the Commission on Judicial Qualifications in April found Peterson guilty of “systemic incompetence” and recommended that she be removed from office.
In one fraud case, the court was troubled by Judge Peterson’s decision to jail a woman who was born in Thailand and was a naturalized U.S. citizen for trying to change her marriage license to her biological father’s name.
Judge Peterson found the woman had attempted to mislead the court and sentenced her to the maximum 20 days in jail, which could be reduced to two days if she paid a $500 fine, which she did and was released two days later.
Trump lawyer accuses Georgia Da Fani Willis of attempting a ‘Hail Mary’ to evade investigation into ‘misconduct’
Peterson was charged with simple assault on a police officer and obstructing a law enforcement officer. (Atlanta Police Department)
But the commission found that the woman had “sought in good faith to correct” what it believed to be “an innocent mistake born out of ignorance rather than malice,” according to court documents.
The court found that Peterson gave “false” testimony to the jury about the incident, which it said “underscored her deliberate misconduct in convicting the woman of criminal contempt.”
This is one of 30 counts filed against Peterson, 12 of which the court found to be disciplinary-worthy.
“Accordingly, Judge Christina Peterson of the Douglas County Probate Court is ordered removed from office effective the date of this judgment,” the court ruled, noting that Judge Peterson will be ineligible to be elected or appointed to any judicial office in the State of Georgia for the next seven years.
Nathan Wade media tour annoys Georgia Fani Willis allies: ‘An unnecessary distraction’
She was arrested early Thursday morning at the same time Peterson was dealing with the misconduct allegations, after she allegedly pushed an Atlanta police officer twice in the chest during an altercation at Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge.
Police said Peterson was uncooperative with police and refused to identify himself. (Atlanta Police Department)
Atlanta police released body camera footage of the incident and said the officers were on a licensed side job at the time.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Peterson’s lawyer, Marvin Arrington Jr., told reporters at a press conference Friday that Peterson was simply trying to defend a woman who was being attacked by an unidentified man and should not have been arrested.
